Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-06-01
FATHER ANDERLEDY.
The New Jesuit Generals Career, and
His Stay in the United States.


"Just imagine the incalculable power
OF Fraternity at the mere mention of
whose name-that of Jesus-every head
is forced to bowl"
This exclamation was uttered some
three hundred years ago by Pope
Sixtus v, one of the most remarkable
Pontiffs who ever sat on the Papal
throne, in abiding to the Order of
Observation-Disclosures known as the Com
pany of Jesus. The new General of
the company-the twenty third since
its foundation-to whom every member
thereof owes the most blind and I'M
questioning obedience, is Father An
derledy. He was born on the Sd of
June, 1919, at Berisal, little hamlet
OF the Canton duValais in Switzerland.
He was brought up at the Jesuit Col
lege of Brigue, on the slopes of the
Simplon, and as soon as he was old
enough, began his first novitiate for
entering the order. Appointed to
professorship of literature at the
immense establishments of the
order at Freiburg he soon at
tracted the attention of his supe-
rior. Perceiving that the remarkable
talents of this son of a poor Valais
peasant might eventually be turned to
the great advantage of the order, he
was sent to Rome, where he spent
some time studying philosophy and
theology under the personal supervis-
of Eot oI.1: oh
the elder brother of the present Pope.
His constitution, however, accustomed
to the mountain air of Switzerland, be-
came seriously injured by the pestifer-
Gus climate of the Eternal City, and he
was obliged after a time to leave Rome
and return to Friburg for the purpose
of recruiting his shattered health. just
at that time the Sonderbund revolution
was in full force in Switzerland, and
the Jesuits were driven out of the
country and their establishments
closed Father Anderledy was arrest
ed at Avenues in the Canton de Vaud,
and after running a great risk of losing
his life at the hands of the fanatical and
! Infatuated populace, was cast into
! prison. Managing to escape, he made
his way to Chambery, where, however,
he was not allowed to remain long; for
the troubles which broke out in the
spring of 1848 all over Europe forced
him and many other members of hi
Fraternity to seek refuge in the United
States, where he was at length ordain-
ed priest. During eighteen months
he devoted himself to Catholic mission
work at Green Ba Wis. His health
again giving way he was recalled to.
Europe, and took up his quarters at
Tronchiennes, in the Belgian province
of Gand, where he devoted all his time
to a searching examination of the his
tory, policy and aims of the great
order to which he belonged.
just about that time the Jesuits be-
gan to devote their attention to Ger
many. Establishments of the order
were successfully founded at Cologne,
Munster, AiX-la-Chapelle, and in fact
throughout the King of Prussia's do
minions, where federation was the
order of the day. Each one of these
center of action, whence a throng of
jealous missionaries spread out in
every direction to proselyte the people.
! If their efforts were crowned with sue
cess, it was in a great measure due to
the marvellous eloquence of Father
Anderledy, who, apparently indefati-
gable, made his silver voice heard in
almost every place of Importance from
the Rhine to the Russian frontier. But
suddenly his overtaxed forces gave
way altogether. He fell dangerously
i'll and for time was entirely deprived
of the power of speech. The physicians
insisted that he should give up preach
ing-a severe trial to so eloquent a,
man = and he now resolved to
! devote all his abilities to the
administrative work of the So
ciety. Successfully rector of the Jes-
uit districts of Cologne and Pader-
born, he founded in 1868 the college of
Maria Laach, which soon became one
of the most renowned establishments
of the order. A few years later he was
elected member of the Supreme
Council of the Society, and owing to.
his profound knowledge of the politi-
cal and religious situation of Northern
Europewas appointed to the high post of
Assistant for Germany" with juris-
diction over the latter, as we'll as over
Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Hol-
land and Scandinavia. There are only
| five of these 'saSSiStantS' to the Gem
eral, who are each intrusted with a
distinct jurisdiction, and who together
with the Generals confessor, or cad
monisher," constitute the Supreme
Council of tho order. So remarkable
were Father Anderledy's services in
this new branch of administration, and
SO completely did he succeed in win
ming the admiration and confidence of
his colleagues, that when, in 1883, the
advancing years of Father Beckx rem
dered it necessary to choose a coadju-
tor to the General, Father Anderledy
was at first ballot almost unanimously
| o1octed tO fiji tho Offioo